Trajectory Optimization and Tracking Control of a Morphing Aircraft

The morphing aircraft can change wing shapes or geometries to achieve optimal flight performance according to various mission scenarios. In previous studies, a variable-sweep-wing morphing aircraft is proposed based on the “Firebee” unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). From perspectives of the entire mission profile, a coordinated trajectory optimization and tracking control method is proposed in this paper for this morphing aircraft. This trajectory optimization method provides results of both morphing strategy and state variables regarding aerodynamic advantages of different aircraft geometries. And a traditional controller is designed to track the optimized trajectory during the entire morphing process. The overall performance of the morphing aircraft is verified by simulation results.